Everton 0 Brentford 0: Sean Dyche’s job hanging by a thread as he’s let down badly by flops that just can’t score
STORM DYCHE hit Goodison Park full force after a pitiful performance against ten-man Brentford.
The force of it, amidst the boos and howls of derision that met the final whistle, will have suggested to boss Sean that his time in charge is about to run out fast.
Thomas Frank’s side hadn’t kept a clean sheet all season and few would have bet on them ending that run after Christian Norgaard was harshly red-carded for catching England No 1 Jordan Pickford.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was called to the touchline screen to review the incident by VAR Matt Donohue and having blissfully unaware of any malicious intent by Norgaard then dismissed him.
Yet the Bees didn’t have to be heroes to hold out with Dyche’s players, who had started so brightly, pitiful in the second half.
With Dan Friedkin soon to move in as new owner and a forthcoming fixture list from hell kicking in Dyche is fighting for his job, let down badly by a side that just can’t score – that just ten goals from twelve games.
They have made a habit of starting games fast but then blowing out and so it proved once again.
By the fourth minute Mark Flekken, having already made more saves than any Prem goalkeeper this season, had two more crucial stops to his credit.
Iliman Nidaye forced both of them, first after he curved into the six-yard box and went for the top corner.
Then the £15M summer arrival from Marseille produced the cheekiest of back–flick to divert a pile-driver from Idrissa Guye, Flekken this time diving brilliantly low and left to deflect.
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Brentford had lost six of their previous seven visits to Goodison Park and struggled desperately to contain Dyche’s go–for–it side.
Indeed they were on the end of eight efforts within the first half–hour, Flekken producing more fine reactions to frustrate Dwight McNeil.
Yet the norm for Dyche’s side has also been that they run out of ideas and steam when the breakthrough doesn’t happen – before this clash they had scored only ten league goals.
So it was that by the 36th minute, a slightly punch-drunk Brentford found they had breathing space.
And the Gwladys Street End breathed a huge sigh of relief after Mikkel Damsgaard turned in his own half a delivered a delicious through ball.
Yoanne Wissa was onto it in a flash and powered towards Pickford, only for the ’keeper to stand his ground and force away the striker’s decent low attempt.
His guts may have cost Norgaard that straight red, too.
Nathan Pinnock curled a cross across the box Wissa, as well as the Danish midfielder went for the ball
Both missed as Pickford moved out to engage and as the ball dropped Norgaard caught him just below the knee with an out-stretched leg.
Did he make contact? Absolutely. Was there malicious intent? Almost certainly not.
The look on his face after referee Kavanagh had been sent to the pitch monitor by VAR Matt Donohue before dismissing him said it all.
Frank was left gob-smacked and then booked for protesting when he was able to open his mouth.
Funnily enough not long into the second half Flekken was caught low as Ndiaye shased the ball down with Nathan Collins also involved.
The decision in that 52nd minute was play–on after the goalkeeper received treatment on a damaged ankle.
Frank was entitled to make what was surely a sardonic comment to fourth official Anthony Backhouse – pot, kettle, black and all that.
Meanwhile, Everton were playing in ever-decreasing circles, the extra man looking more of a hindrance than a help.
Beto replaced Jesper Lindstrom then promptly headed miles over, not long after Vitaliy Mykolenko had had row Z with a wild swipe at a good opportunity.
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